Having reached my next milestone in growing up (now 55 years on this planet), I went for a planet-sized present - the Everest Marathon on 4 December 2009. This involved a wonderful 2-week acclimatisation trek with a fabulous group of people in Sola Khumbu, the Sherpa region of Nepal hard by the Tibetan border towards the eastern end of Nepal. During our first week of trekking we went up the Dudh Koshi river to Gokyo and a bit beyond. Next to Gokyo we climbed up Gokyo Ri and the photo above was taken of me on its summit with Everest, Lhotse and Makalu behind me - the 1st, 4th and fifth highest world peaks. Lhotse is the one straight above my head, with the Nuptse wall in front of it.
The picture below was taken at Namche Bazaar, at the end of Marathon Day - a gruelling 10+ hours during which more came out of my mouth than went in, owing to bacteria of some anti-social variety spoiling my party. I'm not inviting them again.
Ten years ago I celebrated reaching 45 with the 2000 London Marathon when, with a little help from my friends I raised money for the Kings World Trust for Children.
Five years later I got to the big 5-0 and with my comrade Alastair Doyle who is almost my age we celebrated 100 years between us with the 80th Comrades Marathon in KwaZulu Natal - raising even more money for the Kings World Trust for Children and a couple of other charities.
So this time I am hoping to raise loadsa dosh with your assistance again - some for the Kings World Trust which continues to do great things in Southern India, but especially a big wodge for the Nepalese Everest Marathon Fund. Please join in.
Support me by donating to Everest Marathon Fund or Support me by donating to Kings World Trust for Children